Emr Paper
Innovation in Medical Record Documentation:
The Electronic Medical Record
Dennis L Hufford, MD
Faculty Development Fellowship
Madigan army Medical Center
(graduate studies research paper)
(accompanies PowerPointÒ presentation)
Edited for web page 14 July 1999 Executive Summary While many industries quickly integrated information management technology into their business processes, the healthcare industry has lagged behind this trend. Despite rapid adoption of other high technology relating to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, doctors and others within the industry have been reluctant to embrace integrated information management systems. This paper will explore reasons for the tumult surrounding high-tech innovation in medical information management. Healthcare administrators first recognized the potential for computerized data management in the 1960’s [Waegemann 1998, 4]. The rapidly increasing volume of medical information being generated made computers a logical choice in helping to organize, store and retrieve data. As in many other industries, those responsible for the data input (doctors) often encountered frustration in their ability to interface efficiently and effectively with early computers. From the doctors’ perspective, the benefits of electronic data storage were slow to materialize and hard to recognize. Many were disillusioned interacting with computerized data management systems, and resisted relinquishing traditional pen and paper documentation. Computers became tools used mostly by administrators in an increasingly adversarial relationship with the various health professions. This disharmonious relationship was greatly exaggerated by the managed-care revolution in the United States, when administrators and third party payers developed far greater power over doctors and their practices. Now far behind many other technology dependent industries in terms of data management, the healthcare industry is slowly beginning to accept
The Electronic Medical Record
Dennis L Hufford, MD
Faculty Development Fellowship
Madigan army Medical Center
(graduate studies research paper)
(accompanies PowerPointÒ presentation)
Edited for web page 14 July 1999 Executive Summary While many industries quickly integrated information management technology into their business processes, the healthcare industry has lagged behind this trend. Despite rapid adoption of other high technology relating to diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, doctors and others within the industry have been reluctant to embrace integrated information management systems. This paper will explore reasons for the tumult surrounding high-tech innovation in medical information management. Healthcare administrators first recognized the potential for computerized data management in the 1960’s [Waegemann 1998, 4]. The rapidly increasing volume of medical information being generated made computers a logical choice in helping to organize, store and retrieve data. As in many other industries, those responsible for the data input (doctors) often encountered frustration in their ability to interface efficiently and effectively with early computers. From the doctors’ perspective, the benefits of electronic data storage were slow to materialize and hard to recognize. Many were disillusioned interacting with computerized data management systems, and resisted relinquishing traditional pen and paper documentation. Computers became tools used mostly by administrators in an increasingly adversarial relationship with the various health professions. This disharmonious relationship was greatly exaggerated by the managed-care revolution in the United States, when administrators and third party payers developed far greater power over doctors and their practices. Now far behind many other technology dependent industries in terms of data management, the healthcare industry is slowly beginning to accept
References: Azron Incorporated 1998. Charting the Course™ for Electronic Medical Records. Carlsbad, California, August 18. INTERNET. (1998, November 27). Oates, Randall 1998. Electronic Medical Records- SOAPware by DOCS.com. Springdale, Arkansas. INTERNET. (1998, 24 November). The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th ed. 1996. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.